Cavities on the rise: What is targeting kids and young adults?
Published on April 8, 2010 by Dr. Kevin Kunard in Dental Care Tips, Uncategorized,
What are cavities and how do they occur?
Cavities occur when the bacteria in our mouth convert the sugars we consume into an acid. When our teeth become exposed to this acid for a period of time it begins to dissolve and destroy the outer layer or enamel of the tooth surface.
The production of acid depends on the amount of sugars or carbohydrates we eat, the length of time, and the number of times we consume sugar throughout the day. When sugar and bacteria are absent from the mouth, acid is not produce and the mouth is in a neutral state. A cavity is a hole in the tooth which starts to destroy the enamel or outer surface and with a constant acidic environment can penetrate different layers of the tooth.
Soda pop, a popular sugary and acidic drink among kids and teens has gone from the occasional treat to the beverage of choice and has replaced drinks such as milk and water. Kids are drinking twice as much pop as milk and drink three times more than 20 years ago. Soft drinks have no nutritional value and are often called “liquid candy” that does major damage to your teeth.
Soda pop contains sugars and also phosphoric acid. When you sip soda, the sugar in the drink interacts with bacteria in your mouth and creates an acid. Furthermore, the phosphoric acid causes the saliva to have a lower pH level. Our normal pH is 7.4 and when these components in soda combine with our saliva the pH will drop to a lower level creating an acidic environment. For 20 minutes, as long as it takes for your mouth to produce enough saliva to wash it away, the acid begins attacking the enamel on your teeth and eroding it.
Our eating habits influence the risk of dental decay. The amount and frequency of consumption will influence the risk for developing cavities. Pop is acidic in nature and can cause erosion of your enamel. Some may think that diet pop is a healthier alternative because it doesn’t have sugar, however it still creates an acidic environment, and frequent intake will still increase the risk of having cavities. Throughout the day bacteria has an opportunity to produce acid with the food and beverages we consume.
What can be done to reduce the risk for cavities?
If you choose to drink pop limit intake to 1 can per day. The best time to consume pop is during regular meal times to limit the amount of time sugar is present in the mouth. If it is consumed between meal times it is recommended to drink the beverage quickly to reduce exposure time. These principles can also be followed for other sugary foods and beverages including diet soda. Selecting water and other sugar-free beverages between meals will reduce the exposure of acid in your mouth. Even chewing sugar free gum especially gum containing xylitol, or brushing our teeth between meals can help neutralize our saliva and can reduce the likelihood of developing cavities. Moreover, brushing twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste will help to keep our teeth strong and maintaining a healthy smile is especially important in children and young adults. Remember it is always important to visit the dentist regularly especially if you are at risk for cavities. We can diagnose cavities early and help give you pointers or products that will aid in keeping a healthy smile.
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